Recalling Someone Special In My Past

A Memory of East Ham.

I was brought up in 82 Bonny Downs Road from the age of 7 in 1949 through to circa 1960 when my family moved to 11 Pickering Avenue to facilitate the demolition and redevelopment of the properties in that area. I have some great memories. But my one regret in life is letting a very beautiful young woman walk out of my life when I was in East Ham Grammar School in 1958/59. Her name was Mary Partridge and she lived with her Mum and Dad and sister Joan at 89 Sussex Road which was on the top floor of the block of flats on the left side of Sussex Road just before the entrance to the Langdon Schools. Her parents were Harry and Phylis. As I said Mary was a stunningly beautiful young woman. And what she saw in me I will never know. But I was more interested in pursuing a singing career back then and had no time for serious girlfriends. Apparently, she turned up one day at my house in Bonny Downs Road when I was out and cried her eyes out in my Mums arms. My Mum was not best amused. She called me an idiot for not giving someone as pretty as she was a chance. I have now been happily married for 47 years to a woman who is my rock. But I often wonder what happened to her and whether she had a happy life. If she is still alive I would like to say a belated sorry for hurting her all those years ago.
Vic Moorcraft

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